Valve control mechanism



Sept. 4, 1945. G. A. wALDzE VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct. ,1, 1942 INVENTOR GEORGE A. WALDE BY ATTORNEYS Figure 2.

Patented Sept. 4, 14945 UNITED STATES PATENT y(lFFlCl v 2.3,221 vALva oon'raon Macnamsu yomge A. waidie, sama, omo, minor u 'me Hydraulic Development Corporation. Ine., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application 0mm 1, 1942. serial Ne. 400,453

v v 3 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to control mechanism and, in particular, to control mechanism tor actuatingy areciprocable element, such as a valve member. y y

Itis an object of this invention to provide a control mechanism for a reciprocable member adapted to occupy a plurality of positions, in which the shifting of said reciprocable member into its respective position is effected instantaneously, whereupon the said member ispositively heldin its respective position. s

It is-another object to provide a control mechanism in connection with a rotary member, in which the rotary member is moved instantaneously from one angular position to another angular position and vice versa, while means is provided for positively holding the said rotary member in its respective position.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of a control mechanism for a reciprocable member adapted to occupy a plurality of positions, in'which power storage means is adapted instantaneously to shift the reciprocable member from one position into its next position, and in which the loading of said power storage means is effected by` hydraulic motor means. 1

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l illustrates the invention diagrammatically, by way of example, in connection with a rotary valve.

Figure 2 is a section through the rotary valve of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a section along the line I-l of Figure'2.

Figure 4 is a section along the line l-4 of General arrangement The control mechanism according to the invention substantially comprises a reciprocable member movable into a plurality of positions by power storage means, such as yielding or spring means. The power storage means is loaded by a hydraulic motor, 'while a locking mechanism holds the reciprocable member locked in its respective position during the loading of the said 'lil snapl action into its next position at which the locking means will automatically again lock it and hold it locked until the next sluiting operation is eil'ected in the manner set forth above.

`.,Structural arrangement The locking members Ii and l1 (Figure 2) are of identical construction and, therefore, only one of them will be described, while the other member wil1 be designated with the same numerals, however, with the additional letter a.

The locking member i1 consists of a rod Il passing through the cover I! of therotary valve, generally designated 20, and being provided at its lower end with a flange 2|. The upper end of the rod Il is rigidly connected to a cap 22 in any convenient manner, for instance, by means oi' a threaded-pin 23.

interposed between the cap 22 and a recess 24 in the cover i! is a spring 2B, which continuously urges the cap 22 and thereby the rod Il upwardly.

f The upward movement of the rod Il is limited byv a dish-shaped disc 26 adapted to abut the flange 2i. and is prevented from rotation in 'any con-H venient manner. for instance by a pin 3l rigidly connected to the cover I0. The disc 2t is interposed between the cover I9 and a locking disc 21,`

flanges 2| and lia. The-locking disc 21 is fur-'1 thermore provided with a recess 30 engaged by the pin 3I.- As will be clear from the drawings, the pin Il limits the angular movement of the locking disc 21 so that the latter cannot move beyond a predetermined point before it is locked r by engagement of thetlanges 2l and Zia with the respective notches 28 and 29. The locking disc 21 is rigidly connected, for instance', by welding, to a sleeve ufwhch latter is connected to the rotary valve member 33 vby means of a pin Il.

The rotary valve member 33 is provided at its ends with extensions 35 and 86 respectively journailed in anti-friction bearings 31 and Il. which bearings are housed in the valve casing l0.' The valve member 33 is also provided with a longitudinal bore tl communicating with radial passageways 4| and 42, adapted selectively to be connected with the conduits 43 and 44, of which the conduit 44 communicates with a conduit 45 leading to one end of the cylinder 46 of the motor I0, whereas the conduit 43 communicates with a conduit 41 leading to the other end of the cylinder 46. The radial passageways 4| and 42, forming an angle with each other, extend completely through the valve member 33 for balancing the valve member, and are in continuous hydraulic connection with the longitudinal bore 40 of the valve member 33. The valve member 33 is furthermore provided with an annular groove 48, which is in continuous communication with the conduit 49 leading to the pressure side of a iluid source, such as a pump 50. The suction side of the pump 50 communicates with a iluid tank 5| through a conduit 52.

The annular groove 48 also communicates with a groove or passageway 53 provided on the periphery of'the valve member 33 and extending to the level of the connecting points of the conduits 44 and 43 with the valve casing 39, thereby selectively establishing iiuid connection between the annular groove 48 and the conduit 43 or 44.

Rigidly connected to the extension 36 ot the valve member`33, for instance by a pin 54, is a sleeve 55. The sleeve 55 is provided with a bore 56 arranged in alignment with the longitudinal bore 40 of the valve member 33 and communicating with the interior of a casing 51 connected to the valve casing 39 in any convenient manner, for instance by bolts 58. The interior of the casing 58 is connected through a conduit 59 with the tank 5|. The sleeve 55 has a ilange provided with an annular groove'60 housing two equal springs 6| and 62. Two adjacent ends of the springs 6| and 62 engage a. pin 63 rigidly connected to the sleeve 55. The other two adjacent ends of the springs 6| and 62 engage a pin 64 (seeFigure 3), which is rigidly connected to a disc 65. The disc 65, in its turn, is rigidly connected, for instance by welding, to a tubular member or sleeve 66 adapted to rotate about the pivot pin 61 carried by the casing 51.

The tubular member 66 has furthermore rigidly connected thereto an arm 68 which engages an annular recess 69 in a fluid operable plunger 16 cooperating with cylinders 1| and 12 in such a manner that admission of pressure fluid to the cylinder 1I will move the plunger 10 toward the cylinder 12, whereas admission of pressure fluid to the cylinder 12 will cause the plunger 10 to move toward the cylinder 1 I. The cylinder 1I is connected by a conduit 13 with the conduit 41, whereas the cylinder 12 communicates with the conduit 45. The cylinders 1| and 12 preferably form an integral `case unit with the casing 51.

Operation Assuming that the plunger |2 is intended to perform a working cycle, and that the locking disc 21 is locked by the locking member I1, while the locking member I6 occupies the position shown in Figure 2. It may furthermore be assumed that the valve member 33 occupies the position shown in Figure 2, in which the conduit 43 communicates through thepassageway 53 2and annular groove 48 with the pressure line 49, while the passageway 42 communicates with the conduit 44.

To start a working cycle, the operator starts the pump 50. Pressure fluid from the pump 50 then ilows through the conduit 49, annular groove 48, passageway 53, conduits 43 and 41` to the right hand end of the cylinder 46 where it acts upon the piston II so as to move the latter and thereby also the plunger I2 and control rod I3 toward the left. At the same time, fluid also flows from the conduit 43 through the conduit 13 into the cylinder 1| where it acts upon the plunger 10 and moves the same toward the cylinder 12. As a result thereof, the pin 64 moves in anticlockwise direction with regard to Figure l and, since movementl of the sleeve 55 and thereby the pin 63 is prevented due to the fact that the disc 21 is locked by the locking member I1, the anticlockwise movement of the pin 64 loads the spring 62. lThe fluid expelled from the cylinder 12 during the-movement of the plunger 10 toward the cylinder 12 passes through conduits 45 and 44, passageway 42, longitudinal bore 46, bore 56 and conduit 59 tothe tank 5|.

Pressure fluid admitted through the conduit 41 to the right hand end of the cylinder 46 acts upon the plunger I2 so as to move the latter toward the left. Fluid expelled from the cylinder 46 during this leftward movement of the piston II, passes through the conduits 45, 44, passageway 42, longitudinal bore 40, bore 56 and conduit` 59 to the tank 5I. Leftward movement of the piston II also causes the plunger I2 and control rod I3 connected to the said plunger to move toward the left.

The cam member I5 is so adjusted on the control rod I3 that when the plunger I2 has performed its leftward stroke, the cam member I5 has reached such a position that it presses the locking member I1 downwardly into the unlocking or releasing position. Therefore, at the end of the leftward movement of the plunger I2 just described, the cam member I5 slides up on the locking member I1 and moves the latter downwardly to such an extent that the ilange 2| releases the slot 28.

Since, as previously mentioned, the spring 62 was loaded, and the pin 64 at this time is held stationary by Huid pressure acting in the cylinder 1|, the movement of the member I1 in its releasing position causes the spring 62 instantaneously and with a snap action to move the pin 63 and thereby the sleeve 55 and valve member 33 connected thereto, as well as the disc 21. in anticlockwise direction until the disc 21 and thereby the valve member 33 and sleeve 55 connected thereto are stopped by engagement of the pin 3| with the left end of the recess 30. In this position, the notch 29 registers with the ange 2Ia and the spring. pertaining to the locking member I6 and corresponding to the spring 25 of locking member I1, lifts the rod |80. so as to cause the flange 2|a to engage the notch 29. In this way the disc 21 and, consequently, also the valve member 33 and sleeve 55. are positively locked in their respective position.

Due to the shifting movement of the sleeve 55. disc 21 and valve member 33, as just described, the passageway 42 has moved out of alignment with the conduit 44 but into alignment with the conduit 43, whilethe passageway 53 has moved out of alignment with the conduit 43 and now registers with the conduit 44. Consequently, pressure fluid from the pump 50 now flows through conduit 49, annular groove 48, passageway 53 and conduit 44 to the left hand side of the cylinder 46, while fluid connection has been established between the right hand end of the cylinder 46 and the tank 5I through conduits 41 and 43, passageway 4I, bores 40 and 56 and the conduit 59. Therefore, pressure fluid delivered by the pump 5I now moves the piston II and thereby the plunger l2 and control rod I3 toward the right, and at the same time flows to the cylinder 12 and causes the plunger 10 to move toward the cylinder 1I. This movement of the plunger 1li causes the disc 65 to move in clockwise direction, thereby loading the spring 6I in the manner previously described in connection with the loading of spring 62.

When the plunger I2 has reached the desired end of its rightward movement, the cam member Il, which has been set accordingly, depresses the locking member I6 into the position shown in Figure 2, thereby releasing the notch 29 and causing the spring 6I to move the dise 21 and thereby also the valve member 33 and sleeve 55 in clockwise direction. When, during this clockwise movement of the disc 21, the pin 3| engages the right end of the recess 30, it stops movement of the disc 21, valve member 33 and the sleeve 55. Since, now, the notch 28 again occupies the position shown in Figure 4, the spring 25, pertaining to the locking member I1, lifts the latter to such an extent that the flange 2l engages the notch 28, thereby positively locking the disc 21, valve member 33 and sleeve 55 in their respectiveA position. All parts now again occupy the initial position, whereupon another working cycle of the plunger I2 may be started in the manner described above.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims. y

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a control system, a hydraulic motor, valve means rotatable to control the supply of actuating fluid to said motor, a first rotatable membe 1 connected with said valve means, a second rotatable memlber movable relative to said first member, spring means interconnecting said members, locking means normally locking said first rotatable member in its respective position, fluid operable means hydraulically connectedA with said motor means for moving said second menmer selectively in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction through a predetermined angle, means associated with said second member and operable in response to the movement thereof by said fluid operable means for loading said spring means, and

adjustable cam means controlled by said motor means and operable selectively to unlock said first rotatable member following the movement of said second rotatable member through said predetermined angle.

2, In a control system, a hydraulic motor, a source of pressure fluid for supplying actuating fluid to said motor, rotatable valve means connecting with said source and said motor and movable to control the supply of fluid from said source to said motor, a first rotatable member connected with said valve means, a second rotatable member,

spring means connecting said members and continuously urging the same toward a predetermined relative position, fiuid operable means associated with said second member for rotating the same so as to load said spring means, locking means operable normally positively to lock said first rotatable mem-ber in its respective position, means hydraulically connecting said fluid operable means with said motor, and means responsive to a predetermined but variable stroke of said motor for temporarily making said locking means ineffective thereby to permit the loaded spring means to move said -rst rotatable member into said predetermined position relative to said second rotatalble member.

3. In a control system, fluid motor means including a double acting piston having a control rod secured to one side and a plunger secured to the other side thereof, a. uid source, valve means connecting said fluid source with said fluid motor and movable to Icontrol the supply of actuating fluid to said motor, a first movable member operatively associated with said valve means for moving the same, locking means normally locking said first member in its respective position, a second movable member movable relative to said first member, yielding means connecting said movable members, fluid operable means hydraulically connected lwith said motor means operable to move said second member relative to said first member thereby to cause said yielding means t0 store power, a ypair of spaced cam members secured to said control rod and each adapted selectively to move said locking means into interlocking position at a predetermined position of travel of said control rod, thereby to permit said yielding means to restore said movable members to their initial relative position.

GEORGE A. WALDIE. 

